Weekends @ Highlands

It was another beautiful weekend @ Highlands. I’m in the groove there now, feels good.

Never underestimate this terrain, never overestimate your ability.

Friday was a bowl hike and laps on good snow. Each time I go up the bowl now, I pull over just below the top and do my thing. I’m calling it “Jonesy Top Of The Bowl”, since Jonesy showed it to me. But I don’t sit in Jonesy‘s spot, not unless he invites me. Doing so would be coming over to someone’s house for dinner without being invited. I dig it, I could spend a lot of time out there.

I wore my Mom‘s Patagonia fleece that used to be mine but that I gave her, in the early 80’s. Good to feel Mom.

Today was good too. Bowl hike, met brother Terry’s wife and daughter.

Then I had the pleasure of making some turn with Mr. Pinto. We did a Tour De Pinto.

Now before I go on, while skiing with Pinto I had him confused with one of my favorite characters — Mr. De Pinna, from one of my favorite movies – You Can’t Take It With You. I might start calling Pinto Mr. De Pinna anyway, because they’re both so lovable.

Anyway, on to Tour De Pinto.

First stop, T he Oasis. I had never been, it’s beautiful. Not only is it beautiful, but there’s a sign.

Highlands signscan be mysterious, which is a good thing. Brother Jetter tells me some of sign makers aren’t there any more. And it sounds like one has to catch the current sign maker on the right day to find out the meaning of a sign or get clarification. I’m sending out the vibe to the current sign maker, he’ll clear it up. When he does, I’ll add a comment.

We made some sweet turns to exit the Oasis, then it was onto another fort. This one is official. It doesn’t have a sign, but I’m calling it official. I’ll get clarification on this, too. But listening to Pinto and some of the other guys, I’m gonna say it’s an official fort. Official, meaning that it’s endorsed by A.H.S.P.

Below the fort there’s an unofficial shrine. Pinto and I seem to think it’s an Atomic Shrine — because of the skis. What’s an unofficial shrine? It’s a shrine that folks just put up. Like there’s the “Dave Shrine”. Dave’s shrine is next to Chix Coup. Dave passed away, happy trails brother. Then some friends made a shrine. Dave’s shrine is kinda creepy – pictures of a dead guy in the trees. Nothing against Dave, he must have been a good dude if friends thought enough of him to make a shrine. This “Atomic” shrine is alright. But if it’s just about skis, I object.

Anyway, enough about Dave and shrines I disagree with. Back to the Tour.

We wrapped up Tour De Pinto with a stop at what I’m calling, “Defaced” sign.

Jetter mentioned this sign to me on the chair last week, while telling me how to spot an official sign. He was telling me some of the old signs were bigger pieces of wood – 2 X 6 and larger. He said some had been stolen. Jetter told me about an old sign, that someone had written on. First of all, tampering with a sign is criminal behavior. The Highlands Signs are sacred. For someone to tamper with a sign, that’s bad karma.

Check it out. They couldn’t even use proper English. It should read, “Tiger’s Woods”. Criminals, who don’t know English.

The plot thickens. While picking up Jonesy for my last run, I met up with a patroller who knows the signs. He says, that Defaced sign isn’t an a sign that A.H.S.P. put up. Because, according to him, the old signs were all metal framed. I’m tracking down if Defaced sign was at one time, official. Official, defined as a sign made by A.H.S.P. Jetter will be notified when this post goes up, he’ll get to the bottom of it.

Defaced sign

Defaced sign part 2

One more. My Highlands Signs post includes official and unofficial signs. Right now, I think it only includes only two unofficial signs, though – Superman and Land Of The Little People. I’m going to add T he Oasis and Defaced Sign. I’m sure Oasis is official, but I’ll get clarification. Defaced sign could force a heated debate, we’ll see.